Re: Men and Christian education (part 1)

In the congregation that I serve, we have an Adult Education Team, which has about 8 members (both men and women). This team has been vital in coming up with ideas for classes which appeal to a broad range of our membership. For example, our contemporary issues class has been very appealing to men, because they talk about a broad range of issues, primarily things which have been taken out of that week's newspaper, and everyone is encouraged to express an opinion without judgment. We are also just starting a money and faith short-term class (6 weeks) with leadership by two of the men in our congregation.

We also have a "Men's Roundtable" group which meets twice a month for lunch and discussion at the church. There are usually about 15 men in attendance, and they take turns hosting. Whoever is the host for the day provides the meal and the discussion topic.

We ask men to teach children and youth Sunday school and children's church, and to provide leadership for our Wednesday evening children and youth programming.

One other thing we do is to provide a range of service opportunities for the congregation - Habitat for Humanity, collecting food for the food pantry (and delivering it), meals for the homeless, walking in the Hunger Hike - all of these provide great opportunities for all our members (including men!) to live out their faith by actively doing something.

I think sometimes men have only been asked to serve on committees like property or finance - but I think we also need to give men opportunities to feel like they are going deeper into their faith, not just extending their workday through one more meeting. Maybe if we can continue to do that, men will become more engaged in the life of the community of faith.

Re: Men and Christian education (part 1)

Let me start by saying I think it is so important to engage men in every aspect of Christian Education from learning to teaching from preschool through adult education. We are blessed with a pretty active men's ministry and it is in growth as we speak - we are just beginning Men's Fraternity which I believe is going to be a great way for men to connect. We have several adult men involved in teaching and attending classes for adults (although more women it is growing) - we have found that many men don't know the basics so offering classes that don't require prior knowledge as well as Bible 101 type courses allows them to begin on a more comfortable playing field. Do to outside commitments it also seems that classes that people are able to miss and still come back without being lost help.

We also have several young men involved in teaching and leading small groups for our youth - which I think is fabulous!! The one area that I am challenged in getting men to be involved is children's ministry. I believe very strongly that guys bring a completely different aspect to learning for the kids that can be awesome - but a good deal of the men I try to contact are VERY hesistant and VERY uncomfortable with the idea - most of them laugh and simply tell me it is not their thing. I will not however be deterred. I continued to contact men and work to get more involved. Trying to begin by involving HS youth - the kids love it and it is a great beginning for the guys to get comfortable working with kids.

Anxious to hear everyone else's feedback here!!